Black Dragon (Skull Dragon)
Dragon (Water)
Environment: Warm marshes
Organization: Wyrmling, very young, young, juvenile, and young adult: solitary or clutch (2-5); adult, mature adult, old, very old, ancient, wyrm, or great wyrm: solitary, pair, or family (1-2 and 2-5 offspring)
Challenge Rating: Wyrmling 3; very young 4; young 5; juvenile 7; young adult 9; adult 11; mature adult 14; old 16; very old 18; ancient 19; wyrm 20; great wyrm 22
Treasure: Triple standard
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Advancement: Wyrmling 5-6 HD; very young 8-9 HD; young 11-12 HD; juvenile 14-15 HD; young adult 17-18 HD; adult 20-21 HD; mature adult 23-24 HD; old 26-27 HD; very old 29-30 HD; ancient 32-33 HD; wyrm 35-36 HD; great wyrm 38+ HD
Level Adjustment: Wyrmling +3; very young +3; young +3; juvenile +4; others —
The dragon’s head looks decidedly like a skull thanks to its deep-socketed eyes and wide, flat nasal opening. It has forward-curving horns and a spinal crest that peaks just behind the head and tapers off about three quarters of the way down the neck. An acidic smell surrounds the dragon, whose scales are mostly dull ebony and dark grey.
|
Age |
Size |
Hit Dice (hp) |
Str |
Dex |
Con |
Int |
Wis |
Cha |
|
Wyrmling |
S |
4d12+4 (30) |
11 |
10 |
13 |
8 |
11 |
8 |
|
Very young |
S |
7d12+7 (52) |
13 |
10 |
13 |
8 |
11 |
8 |
|
Young |
M |
10d12+20 (85) |
15 |
10 |
15 |
10 |
11 |
10 |
|
Juvenile |
M |
13d12+26 (110) |
17 |
10 |
15 |
10 |
11 |
10 |
|
Young adult |
L |
16d12+48 (152) |
19 |
10 |
17 |
12 |
13 |
12 |
|
Adult |
L |
19d12+76 (199) |
23 |
10 |
19 |
12 |
13 |
12 |
|
Mature adult |
H |
22d12+110 (253) |
27 |
10 |
21 |
14 |
15 |
14 |
|
Old |
H |
25d12+125 (287) |
29 |
10 |
21 |
14 |
15 |
14 |
|
Very old |
H |
28d12+168 (350) |
31 |
10 |
23 |
16 |
17 |
16 |
|
Ancient |
H |
31d12+186 (387) |
33 |
10 |
23 |
16 |
17 |
16 |
|
Wyrm |
G |
34d12+238 (459) |
35 |
10 |
25 |
18 |
19 |
18 |
|
Great wyrm |
G |
37d12+296 (536) |
37 |
10 |
27 |
20 |
21 |
20 |
|
Age |
Base Attack/ Grapple |
Attack |
Fort Save |
Ref Save |
Will Save |
Breath Weapon (DC) |
Frightful Presence DC |
|
Wyrmling |
+4/-4 |
+6 |
+5 |
+4 |
+4 |
2d4 (13) |
-- |
|
Very young |
+7/+4 |
+9 |
+6 |
+5 |
+5 |
4d4 (14) |
-- |
|
Young |
+10/+12 |
+12 |
+9 |
+7 |
+7 |
6d4 (17) |
-- |
|
Juvenile |
+13/+16 |
+16 |
+10 |
+8 |
+8 |
8d4 (18) |
-- |
|
Young adult |
+16/+24 |
+19 |
+13 |
+10 |
+11 |
10d4 (21) |
19 |
|
Adult |
+19/+29 |
+24 |
+15 |
+11 |
+12 |
12d4 (23) |
20 |
|
Mature adult |
+22/+38 |
+28 |
+18 |
+13 |
+15 |
14d4 (26) |
23 |
|
Old |
+25/+42 |
+32 |
+19 |
+14 |
+16 |
16d4 (27) |
24 |
|
Very old |
+28/+46 |
+36 |
+22 |
+16 |
+19 |
18d4 (30) |
27 |
|
Ancient |
+31/+50 |
+40 |
+23 |
+17 |
+20 |
20d4 (31) |
28 |
|
Wyrm |
+34/+58 |
+42 |
+26 |
+19 |
+23 |
22d4 (34) |
31 |
|
Great wyrm |
+37/+62 |
+46 |
+28 |
+20 |
+25 |
24d4 (36) |
33 |
|
Age |
Speed |
Initiative |
AC |
Special Abilities |
Caster Level |
SR |
|
Wyrmling |
60 ft., fly 100 ft. (average), swim 60 ft. |
+0 |
15 (+2 size, +3 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 15 |
Immunity to acid, water breathing |
-- |
-- |
|
Very young |
60 ft., fly 100 ft. (average), swim 60 ft. |
+0 |
17 (+1 size, +6 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 17 |
|
-- |
-- |
|
Young |
60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. |
+0 |
19 (+9 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 19 |
|
-- |
-- |
|
Juvenile |
60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. |
+0 |
22 (+12 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 22 |
Darkness |
-- |
-- |
|
Young adult |
60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. |
+0 |
24 (-1 size, +15 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 24 |
DR 5/magic |
1st |
17 |
|
Adult |
60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. |
+0 |
27 (-1 size, +18 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 27 |
Corrupt water |
3rd |
18 |
|
Mature adult |
60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. |
+0 |
29 (-2 size, +21 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 29 |
DR 10/magic |
5th |
21 |
|
Old |
60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. |
+0 |
32 (-2 size, +24 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 32 |
Plant growth |
7th |
22 |
|
Very old |
60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. |
+0 |
35 (-2 size, +27 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 35 |
DR 15/magic |
9th |
23 |
|
Ancient |
60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. |
+0 |
38 (-2 size, +30 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 38 |
Insect plague |
11th |
25 |
|
Wyrm |
60 ft., fly 200 ft. (clumsy), swim 60 ft. |
+0 |
39 (-4 size, +33 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 39 |
DR 20/magic |
13th |
26 |
|
Great wyrm |
60 ft., fly 200 ft. (clumsy), swim 60 ft. |
+0 |
42 (-4 size, +36 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 42 |
Charm reptiles |
15th |
28 |
Black dragons are evil-tempered, cunning, and malevolent, characteristics that are reflected in their crafty, sinister faces.
Black dragons are sometimes known as skull dragons because of their skeletal faces. Adding to the skeletal impression is the gradual deterioration of the hide around the base of the horn and the cheekbones. This deterioration increases with age and does not harm the dragon. On hatching, a black dragon’s scales are thin, small, and glossy. As the dragon ages, they become larger, thicker, and duller, helping it camouflage itself in swamps and marshes.
Black dragons lair in large, damp caves and multichambered underground caverns. They smell of rotting vegetation and foul water, with an acidic undertone. Older dragons hide the entrance to their lairs using plant growth. Black dragons dine primarily on fish, mollusks, and other aquatic creatures. They also hunt for red meat but like to “pickle” it by letting it lie in ponds within the lair for days before eating it.
Black dragons are especially fond of coins. Older dragons sometimes capture and question humanoids about stockpiles of gold, silver, and platinum coins before killing them.
Combat
Black dragons prefer to ambush their targets, using their surroundings as cover. When fighting in heavily forested swamps and marshes, they try to stay in the water or on the ground; trees and leafy canopies limit their aerial maneuverability. When outmatched, a black dragon attempts to fly out of sight, so as not to leave tracks, and hide in a deep pond or bog.
Breath Weapon (Su): A black dragon has one type of breath weapon, a line of acid.
Water Breathing (Ex): A black dragon can breathe underwater indefinitely and can freely use its breath weapon, spells, and other abilities while submerged.
Corrupt Water (Sp): Once per day an adult or older black dragon can stagnate 10 cubic feet of water, making it become still, foul, and unable to support animal life. The ability spoils liquids containing water. Magic items (such as potions) and items in a creature’s possession must succeed on a Will save (DC equal to that of the dragon’s frightful presence) or become fouled. This ability is the equivalent of a 1st-level spell. Its range is equal to that of the dragon’s frightful presence.
Charm Reptiles (Sp): A great wyrm black dragon can use this ability three times per day. It works as a mass charm spell that affects only reptilian animals. The dragon can communicate with any charmed reptiles as though casting a speak with animals spell. This ability is the equivalent of a 1st-level spell.
Other Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day—darkness (juvenile or older; radius 10 feet per age category), insect plague (ancient or older); 1/day—plant growth (old or older).
Skills: Hide, Move Silently, and Swim are considered class skills for black dragons.
